MMA for the kids?!

[crackinhedz]

So, as some may know...Im having a little baby boy due here any day now!

Little Christian Alexander.

I have always been athletic all through high school and what not, but over the last few years I have been intrigued by the sport of MMA.

I kind of feel i'm a little too old now to get into the sport myself (I never liked the idea of getting punched in the nose), but now that I have a little boy on the way my first thought is to get his little butt into MMA at a young age. Mainly to teach him discipline and how to protect himself.

And as you know, first time parents try to find all the cute little clothes to dress their kids up in. Ive already got my Florida Gators and Orlando magic jersey waiting for the little tike, but I wanted to find something related to mixed martial arts. Not too many places sell MMA gear for new borns! but I found a place called cribfighters.com that sells really cool MMA outfits for little kids.

Of course immediately I bought this one:



...but my wife HAAAAATES the idea of MMA. (I love it)


Women.

anyways, any of you guys dress your kids up in MMA gear or taking MMA classes?? I don't even know where to start? Karate? BJJ? Kick Boxing? Boxing? Wrestling?


Also, how old do you think is a good age before they start to get physical? ...obviously I don't want him putting his 3rd grade classmates in a triangle or gogo plata at the playground...but I also want him to advance fairly young.


Any advice/tips??

[jkwest]

My kids started Karate when they were 6-8. Its really good at teaching them discipline and honor. Thats the key at that age..to get them to be disciplined and respect the teacher and not be afraid of bigger kids. After that...thats up to you.

[crackinhedz]

So how did you get them into the idea of Karate?

Obviously you don't see much on TV ...except for movies and what not.

[jkwest]

actually..they had a school presentation by the dojo that showed the kids stuff like breaking boards, and sparring..and at the end they handed out pamphlets that gave you a free month worth of lessons. worked for us.

[crackinhedz]

cool, so they came to the school and demonstrated??

I know im getting ahead of myself here...I still have many years to go before he is ready to throw chuck norris round houses.

[BRu-LAy]

I say start them off in either Karate or Tae Kwon Do. They are safer Martial Arts to put little kids in.

[crackinhedz]

When you sign your kids up for classes, are the classes pretty big? or does it kind of depend on the size of the gym and how many instructors are available? ...kind of like in school, Id like some one on one time with the coach every know and then.

[jkwest]

yep...it was like a school assembly.

if you want to start them earlier than that, just watch the show with them when they are young..always make them sit with you...like a little "bonding brainwashing" session...and then pretend fight with them and make it fun...after I watch MMA, my kids are always up kicking and wrestling each other..trying legholds and stuff...

young years..Karate and maybe some Freestyle wrestling...they have a wrestling club up here that start the kids at 6 years old...I love watching it.

middle years..Karate...seriously..the discipline is key to success..they will need the drive. The honor part of it will help tremendously in school, also. They won't back talk you, and they will listen to their teachers. Maybe some Junior high wrestling would help.

And, don't force it, but, be firm in making them continue. If it gets hard, the first thing they will want to do is quit....don't let em...unless it leads to issues.

[crackinhedz]

jkwest, your post is very inspiring and exactly what I wanted to know.

I do like the idea of starting Karate very young to learn discipline and honor.

just watch the show with them when they are young..always make them sit with you...like a little "bonding brainwashing" session

We will be watching Karate Kid 1 & 2 every night before bedtime. And I will read him a chapter ever night from Fedor: The Fighting System of the World's Undisputed King of MMA.

[pacificvibes]

I took Karate when I was younger. I stayed in for about three years. I liked it a lot. I wish I stuck with it when I go older

[jkwest]

also, if its not their thing..don't push it....my 15 year old just dropped out of Karate last year after 6 years of it...he just didn't like to anymore. It was heart-wrenching for me. But, now he's really into rock-climbing. And, the core strength he has from martial arts has made climbing extremely easy. He was only like 2 years from his black belt qualifications, though...ugh!

[Uniquely]

The onesy is cute. I bought one for a friend's baby.... it said "Hung like a five year old."

[pacificvibes]

Originally Posted by jkwest

also, if its not their thing..don't push it....my 15 year old just dropped out of Karate last year after 6 years of it...he just didn't like to anymore. It was heart-wrenching for me. But, now he's really into rock-climbing. And, the core strength he has from martial arts has made climbing extremely easy. He was only like 2 years from his black belt qualifications, though...ugh!

OHHH man that sucks.

[silversnake]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

The onesy is cute. I bought one for a friend's baby.... it said "Hung like a five year old."

Yes!! Love it

[petenad]

Yeah Crackin Karate is a good start both my boys started when they were 6 and the oldest is 19 youngest is 14 it has helped them in many ways. The older one got into wrestling in High school but he always goes back to his basics.

[crackinhedz]

I know wrestling has come a long way and is a great base for fundamental grappling. I will most definitely steer him in that direction later on in school.